The Branches of Perspective
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” Author Harper Lee clearly demonstrates the importance of perspective in this quote. She reminds us throughout her best-selling novel that a changed perspective and a loss of innocence fly side by side. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the idea of changing perspective through the staggering differences between the innocent views of a child, and the more cynical, realistic views of those close to adulthood.
One way Lee explores the idea of changing and contrasting perspectives is through Jem’s loss of innocence. An initial author choice that clearly expresses a shift in Jem’s character is his reaction …show more content…
It’s important to note that Lee’s use of the oak tree and cement is metaphorical for the cruelty that outsiders receive. Another incident that highlights how children’s perspectives change as they grow is Jem’s unexpected reaction to Mrs. Dubose’s torments. Her constant racism had ruffled his feathers considerably. As stated on page 104, Atticus “never thought Jem would be the one to lose his head over this.” This statement further proves the drastic differences between naive children and informed adolescents. An important author choice regarding this incident is that the flowers Jem tried to destroyed were white camellias. This floral piece is symbolic of Maycomb’s deep rooted racism. The fact that despite Jem, whose character represents goodness; his name itself means “to uplift”, tearing off all the tops of the flowers, they still flourish. Much like racism, they must be removed from the roots, as stated by Mrs. Dubose on page 110. A final example of Jem’s perspective evolution is his fall from faith at the trial. Lee’s choice to have such a build up in belief regarding Atticus’s abilities, such as Jem’s assurance in victory, page 202, and his optimistic attitude regarding the jury 's decision, page 210, …show more content…
This is shown through another example of perspective change, this time regarding the children’s interaction with Boo Radley. It’s important to note that Harper Lee’s line of events involving the children and Boo mimics the story of Adam and Eve. A detail that supports this idea is Scout’s tom-boy appearance, as it makes her more Adam-like. Also, her unflinching ability to follow Jem parallels the way Adam caves into temptation after Eve does. Other details that hint at a biblical allusion are the use of chinaberries on the night the children go to the Radley place (page 57); these berries represent the fruit of knowledge. As well, the constant image painted by Harper Lee of Atticus being surrounded by light, such as on page 151, makes us picture him as god-like, and therefore represents God in the Adam and Eve parallel. Much like Adam and Eve and their worldview revelations, the children’s perspective of Boo changes drastically with added knowledge. For example, when the children are young, they view Boo Radley as a “malevolent phantom” (page 8). This author choice indicates that the children don’t see Boo clearly. Instead they see him with a perspective blurred by prejudice, much like the foggy image associated with ghosts. As the children grow, their perspective on Boo changes. This is shown through the comfortability the children have when
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” Author Harper Lee clearly demonstrates the importance of perspective in this quote. She reminds us throughout her best-selling novel that a changed perspective and a loss of innocence fly side by side. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the idea of changing perspective through the staggering differences between the innocent views of a child, and the more cynical, realistic views of those close to adulthood.
One way Lee explores the idea of changing and contrasting perspectives is through Jem’s loss of innocence. An initial author choice that clearly expresses a shift in Jem’s character is his reaction …show more content…
It’s important to note that Lee’s use of the oak tree and cement is metaphorical for the cruelty that outsiders receive. Another incident that highlights how children’s perspectives change as they grow is Jem’s unexpected reaction to Mrs. Dubose’s torments. Her constant racism had ruffled his feathers considerably. As stated on page 104, Atticus “never thought Jem would be the one to lose his head over this.” This statement further proves the drastic differences between naive children and informed adolescents. An important author choice regarding this incident is that the flowers Jem tried to destroyed were white camellias. This floral piece is symbolic of Maycomb’s deep rooted racism. The fact that despite Jem, whose character represents goodness; his name itself means “to uplift”, tearing off all the tops of the flowers, they still flourish. Much like racism, they must be removed from the roots, as stated by Mrs. Dubose on page 110. A final example of Jem’s perspective evolution is his fall from faith at the trial. Lee’s choice to have such a build up in belief regarding Atticus’s abilities, such as Jem’s assurance in victory, page 202, and his optimistic attitude regarding the jury 's decision, page 210, …show more content…
This is shown through another example of perspective change, this time regarding the children’s interaction with Boo Radley. It’s important to note that Harper Lee’s line of events involving the children and Boo mimics the story of Adam and Eve. A detail that supports this idea is Scout’s tom-boy appearance, as it makes her more Adam-like. Also, her unflinching ability to follow Jem parallels the way Adam caves into temptation after Eve does. Other details that hint at a biblical allusion are the use of chinaberries on the night the children go to the Radley place (page 57); these berries represent the fruit of knowledge. As well, the constant image painted by Harper Lee of Atticus being surrounded by light, such as on page 151, makes us picture him as god-like, and therefore represents God in the Adam and Eve parallel. Much like Adam and Eve and their worldview revelations, the children’s perspective of Boo changes drastically with added knowledge. For example, when the children are young, they view Boo Radley as a “malevolent phantom” (page 8). This author choice indicates that the children don’t see Boo clearly. Instead they see him with a perspective blurred by prejudice, much like the foggy image associated with ghosts. As the children grow, their perspective on Boo changes. This is shown through the comfortability the children have when